College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Best Music Colleges for Veterans in Virginia

11 Ranked Colleges
632 Degrees Awarded
$33,700 Avg Cost*
Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for veterans. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 25,910 people earned their degree in music, making the major the 43rd most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, music graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $27,160 and had an average of $24,560 in loans still to pay off.

Across Virginia, there were 632 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,058 and $26,582 respectively.

This year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music” ranking analyzed 11 colleges that offered a degree in music. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great music programs and a strong support system for veterans and active service members.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the music program at the school, veteran affordability, and veteran satisfaction. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Music Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music

The colleges and universities below are the best for virginia vets studying music.

Top 11 Best Music Colleges for Veterans in Virginia

1
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

Out of the 11 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music that were part of this year’s ranking, James Madison University landed the #1 spot on the list. James Madison University is a large public school situated in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It awarded 77 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

JMU also took the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 842 of the 21,594 students enrolled at James Madison University were GI Bill® students, of which 464 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $5,824. To help with additional expenses, 3 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read More…

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Commonwealth University. The school came in at #2 for the Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music. VCU is a large school located in Richmond, Virginia that handed out 50 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

VCU also took the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.According to our most recent data, VCU supports 29,070 students, and 1 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 2 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $13,085. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read More…

3
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Liberty University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music list. Liberty University is a large school located in Lynchburg, Virginia that handed out 119 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

Liberty University also took the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 13,282 of the 93,349 students enrolled at Liberty University were GI Bill® students, of which 8,897 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,888. In addition to receiving other benefits, 386 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Liberty University offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

4
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend George Mason University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music list. Fairfax, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music degrees to 83 students in 2020-2021.

GMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Of the 38,541 students enrolled at George Mason University, 2,334 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 1,583 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $10,710. During this same period, 42 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read More…

5
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Out of the 11 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Tech landed the #5 spot on the list. Virginia Tech is a large public school situated in Blacksburg, Virginia. It awarded 19 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

Virginia Tech also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].Among the 37,024 students enrolled at Virginia Tech, 119 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 108 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $12,314. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read More…

5
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Old Dominion University. The school came in at #5 for the Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music. Old Dominion is a large school located in Norfolk, Virginia that handed out 26 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

Old Dominion also took the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Of the 24,286 students enrolled at Old Dominion, 1 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 0 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $0. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Old Dominion offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Full Old Dominion Veteran Student Life Report

7
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music ranking, coming in at #7. University of Virginia is a public institution located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

University of Virginia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.According to our most recent data, University of Virginia - Main Campus supports 25,628 students, and 3 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 0 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $0. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read More…

8
Radford crest
Radford University
Radford, Virginia

Radford University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music ranking. Radford University is a medium-sized public school situated in Radford, Virginia. It awarded 29 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

Radford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Among the 10,695 students enrolled at Radford, 460 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 225 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,142. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Radford offers credit for military training for eligible students.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Radford]](/colleges/radford-university/student-life/veterans/)

9
CNU crest
Christopher Newport University
Newport News, Virginia

Christopher Newport University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music list. Christopher Newport University is a public institution located in Newport News, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

CNU also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].Of the 4,868 students enrolled at CNU, 344 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 196 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $7,614. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read More…

10
Shenandoah crest
Shenandoah University
Winchester, Virginia

Shenandoah University did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music ranking, coming in at #10. Shenandoah University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winchester, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 67 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our virginia vets studying music list, Shenandoah has also earned the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] rank in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Of the 4,174 students enrolled at Shenandoah, 222 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 133 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $16,576. During this same period, 36 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Shenandoah University Veteran Student Life Report

11
UMW crest
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, Virginia

University of Mary Washington ranked #11 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Virginia for Music list. University of Mary Washington is a small public school situated in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It awarded 12 ’s music degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMW, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Among the 4,293 students enrolled at University of Mary Washington, 47 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 39 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $5,578. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read More…

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options